Global News: January 29, 2019
Global News: 2018
CTV News: 2018
CTV News: 2017
Shaw TV: 2016
Shaw TV: 2015
Global News: January 29, 2019
Global News: 2018
CTV News: 2018
CTV News: 2017
Shaw TV: 2016
Shaw TV: 2015
Le Classique is the brainchild of Marc Foidart and Rob Tetrault, who conceived of the idea over a few drinks at the Garage Café in late 2012. The objective was to figure out an effective way to raise money and awareness for Congenital CMV Research through the Canadian CMV Foundation.
The men imagined gathering a group individuals and playing Canada’s favorite pastime in one of the most historic areas of Western Canada, Historic St. Boniface.
Ball hockey has been played at some level on streets everywhere in Canada for generations. Both Marc and Rob have been profoundly impacted by ball hockey in their lives. Francophones raised in rural Manitoba, Marc and Rob were surrounded by the game from an early age, having both screamed “Car” on many occasions in their youth growing up in St. Norbert and Marchand respectively.
When the men were trying to find an ideal location, they quickly realized that they were literally standing on a goldmine. The Garage’s vast parking lot would provide an ideal location to host a ball hockey tournament. It would provide immediate and convenient access to drinks, food and facilities, along with enough space for two rinks.
The tournament was born.
The first three iterations of Western Canada’s largest outdoor winter 3-on-3 ball hockey tournament would prove to be too successful, raising the bar every year and raising more and more money every year. In search of a larger venue to accommodate the fast growth the tournament was seeing, the men looked to one of their strongest partners for help, le Festival du Voyageur. In its fourth edition, the tournament was been given a new venue and delivered an unbelievable experience! This year like last year, the tournament organizers have set their eyes on increasing the participation a lofty goal that they think they can achieve.
Twenty five hours and 78 games of ball hockey over three days on two playing surfaces and the third edition of Le Classique is in the books. After months of preparation, organizers Rob Tetrault and Marc Foidart came up with five words to describe the tournament: “Much better than last year!”. Over 2000 people attended on site at the Garage Café during the three days of competition to take in some ball hockey, festive atmosphere and cold beverage or two. The winners of the tournament were the Lab Boyz, a group of ragtag farmers who trekked the long journey from La Broquerie to compete in the event, captained by Colin Tetrault who beat another team from La Broquerie captained by Charles Tetrault in a tightly contested final.